Mabus to donate portion of salary

Apr. 4, 2013 - 10:27AM
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Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced Wednesday that he will join the president and the defense secretary in giving up a portion of his salary to show solidarity with civilians affected by furloughs, though he will donate it to charity instead of returning it to the government.

“Civilian personnel are vital to the success of the Navy and Marine Corps team,” said a post on the secretary's Facebook page. “In support of the thousands who are facing leave without pay, Sec. Mabus will donate the portion of his salary that would be affected if he was subject to the furlough.”

It is now expected that Defense Department civilians will be forced to take 14 days without pay, down from the original 22.

As of January 2012, Mabus was earning almost $180,000 per year, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

Mabus plans to donate the portion of his salary in the name of all Navy department civilian workers to the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, the Facebook post said, which supports federal civilian employees with scholarship opportunities, emergency assistance funds and child care subsidies.